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Sunday, March 29, 2015

A woman’s choice – #MyChoice

I have always adored Deepika Padukone. A beautiful actress,
who knows how to act, is uncommon in Bollywood. A timid actress promoting Om
Shanti Om alongwith Shahrukh Khan, to the bold woman answering all possible
questions from media, yet living a spirited life. She has come a long way. She stands out to be a lady of grit,
integrity, and self-confidence.

Just a couple of weeks back, she talked about a phase in life,
when she was depressed. With pots of money, beauty to die for, success and
fame, she was depressed, seeking consultancy. Many viewers said this was for
publicity. Such people are common in the Indian context - whatever an actor
does is for publicity. I disagree, because out of everyone, atleast Deepika doesn’t
need publicity. I take it as she said it – it was about awareness.

“If I can impact one life in this entire
process of speaking up and letting people know that it's something I have been
through and something that I could deal with because I had a fantastic support
system."

While
browsing last evening, I came across another of her powerful videos. This video
is collaboration between director Homi Adajania and Deepika. Its title reads 'My
Choice' and is dedicated to #VogueEmpower, Vogue India's social awareness
initiative. It is written by Kersi Khambatta, and shot by Tassaduq Hussain.

I
watched it several times today. A black and white, no flash, no noise video, yet
powerful and emphatic. It has several shares on social network sites.The
message is loud and clear – women should have a right to have their own choice.
My Choice. Good work Deepika, good job team, good job vogue.

My
question.

Will
this video achieve what it wants to?

No, a part of the world will not be
affected by the video.

This
big chunk of population of the world will include men and women both. They are
the ones who strongly believe that women are meant to be objectified. They are
born to follow certain rules set by the society, and take up a set of
responsibilities including bearing babies (number of babies could be decided by
godmen). They are born to be quiet, to be submissive, to be tread upon. They have
to live for others. They are groomed to have no self-respect, no self-love, no
self-compassion, and above all, no identity. And they live with it. And die
without it.

Yes, if the women watch it, get inspired
and wake up.

This
video will be a truth, if all that I wrote above, holds untrue. It is not very
hard to think that it will reverse, if and only if women want to. A woman has
to realize that she is a human being. Like all other human beings, she can have
emotions and feelings. Like all human beings, she can have her own choices. She
can feel happy, satisfied, content or joyous. She can feel hungry, exhausted,
bored or exasperated. She can feel pain and pleasure, love and hatred, respect
and contempt.

She
can have dreams and objectives for her own life. She can nurture her reasons of
joy, be it writing, flying, building, driving or raising a child. She can
disobey and defy the rules of the society, living your own dream, if that is
what she thinks is right. She can think, she can talk, and she can have her
opinions. She can be identified instead
of being objectified.

If
at all, she wants to live her life, and not her kin’s, a woman will have to stand
by herself and has to focus on her well-being and love herself. She has to
fight the world, for the world will definitely try to trudge upon her. This is
not going to be easy, but it will definitely be more pleasurable than living a
life of other’s choice. Placards and slogans will not help, videos and talk
shows will not help, others talking for you will not help. You who can do it for
yourself. Be self-compassionate and self-loving.

This
is the link for the wonderful video, thanks to Deepika and all the 99 women. You
make us think.

For
the second time in a row, this April, I will be posting everyday. Due to hectic
professional schedule, I did not do a theme reveal for my challenge. As an
informal reveal, I will be writing about compassion, which will revolve around
women and children. This series will be a part of the 1000speak – 1000 voices
for compassion www.1000speak.wordpress.com as well as
A-to-Challenge www.a-to-zchallenge.com

To
begin with, I would like to take this self-compassion test. Please note your score,
put it in the comments section. I invite you to read my posts this month. At
the end of the month, do take the test again. If the score changes for good,
you will succeed in making yourself happy.